Matrix changing device



May 6, 1941- J. E. MORGAN MATRIX CHANGING DEVICE Original Filed Dec. 27, 193'? 2 She ets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nw/ENTUR 7 7' TERA/ v May6, 1941. J. E. MORGAN MATRIX CHANGING DEVICE Original Filed D es. 27, 195'! lllllllllll IIIIA VIII I JAMES EAR O 6 .5

the machine with their fonts of matrices.

Patented May 6, 1 941 UNITED STATES PATENT or ies MATRIX CHANGEXG DEVICE James Earl Morgan, Portland, Greg.

Application December 27, 1937, Serial No. 181,845

Renewed October 3, 11939 8 Claims.

matrix changing devices for a Linotype which will effect a considerable economy both in Linotype equipment and in the labor involved in changing the fonts of matrices in a Linotype magazine.

"A magazine is designed to hold one font of matrices. In book and job printing offices a considerable number of extrafonts of matrices are required This is because the varied work of such :omces requires a considerable number of different' faces. The recommended practice is to have extra fonts of matrices stored in extra magazines, so that these magazines can quickly be placsed on eparate fonts of matrices to be run in and out of magazines have not heretofore been found advantageous.

However, it is a common practice among printers to store extra fonts of matrices in any convenient receptacle This is done by running the matrices onto the assembler stick a few at a time and removing them therefrom to any convenient receptacle for storage. When the matrices are to be returned to the magazine they are placed a few at a time on the distributor bar,

the number handled at one time being as many i as can safely be grasped by the hand. To change a font of. matrices in a. magazine by this method requires approximately two hours time.

Applicant has devised a mechanism to receive the matrices from the matrix delivery belt and deliverthem to a suitable receptacle for storage, as well as mechanism to facilitate returning the matrices to the magazine on the Linotype. Referenceis made tothe accompanying drawings, in which "is illustrated the details of construction and the general arrangement of parts of applicants matrix changing devices; the particular features of novelty being set'forth in the appended claims. In the drawings:

' Figure 1 is aperspective elevation of a portion of the front of a Linotype machine, illustrating the relative positions, with respect to other parts of the machine, of the mechanism for receiving matrices from the matrix delivery belt.

, 'Figure 2 is a perspective elevation of the mechani'sm for'loading a storage receptacle with matrices received from the matrix delivery belt,

illustrating in detail the manner of operation of the respective parts. I V

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on the line33 of Figure 2, showing the mechanism for transferring matrices from the spiral chute to a storage receptacle.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the spiral chute 5 for receiving matrices from the matrix delivery belt.

Figure 5 is 'a sectionalplan view of the matrix transfer box, taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional elevation of the storage receptacle and matrix-transfer box, taken on the line 6--6 of Figure 3.

Figure? is aside elevation of the adapter for introducing the matrices into the distributor box,

' and showing astorage receptacle in position for unloading the matrices therefrom into the adapter.

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional elevation of the adapter, taken on the line 8 8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of the adapter, taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8.

Devices which embody applicants invention comprise a spiral chute; a matrix transfer box;

a storage receptacle; and a distributor adapter.

'In common parlance, a receptacle for storing matrices is called a galley, and this element will be so referred to throughout the specification. All of the devices embodying the invention are separable from the Linotype machine, the respective parts being detachably secured to the Linotype by means of thumb screws or similar means only at times when the matrices are to be run out of or into the magazines on the machine. At all other times these devices in no way change or interfere withthe intended normal operation of in position to receive matrices directly from the .matrix delivery belt.' The matrices enter the chute by way of an orifice 8 in the side of the chute and in passing therethrough are turned a quarter-turn so as to enter a galley 5 positioned at a right angle to the assembler slide 1. The delivery orifice I0 i in the end of the chute, the

matrices dropping clear thereof into the transfer box 4.

The transfer box 4 comprises a casing for a star wheel 12 which serves to move the matrices 2 forwardly between guides l3-|3 into a galley 5. A pulley I 4 is keyed to one end of the star wheel shaft, "and power to rotate the star wheel 12 is imparted to this pulley by means of an end less belt l5 trained over the pulley l4 and over a drive pulley l6 keyed to a drive shaft 11. It is intended that the keyboard cam roller of the Linotype shall be utilized as the drive shaft, the drive pulley I6 being keyed thereto. By this means the speed of the star wheel l2 may be syn-.

ehronized with the delivery of the matrices from the magazine.

As best illustrated in Figures 5 and 6; the forwardly extended side walls l8l8 of the transfer box 4 are oifset at l9l9 to receive the abutting end of the galley. The end of the galley is inserted into the transfer box and caused to abut against the shoulders formed by the offset portions of the walls. When in this position, the

abutting walls of the transfer box 4 and of the galley are overlaid by the guides |3l3 which prevent the matrices catching or tripping on the ends of the galley walls. For a similar purpose a guide 20 is secured to the floor of the transfer box and extends into the galley to cover the joint between the floor of the box and the floor of the galley. Because of the presence of the guides l-3-|3 and 20, no harm is done if the galley should become slightly askew and a slight gap be permitted between the end of the galley and the transfer box,

As has been stated, the galley is positioned at a right angle to the assembler slide, and so projects, forwardly of the machine parallel with the edge of the keyboard. An operator sitting at the keyboard may thus support the galley on his left knee, and at once give his attention tothe manipulation of the keybuttons for releasing the matrices, as well as to the loading of the galley.

As may be expected, applicants galley 5 is of the same general shape and design as the matrix receptacle A illustrated in the patent to Fjellander, No. 1,053,167, issued February 18, 1913. Several features of novelty are, however, incorporated in applicants structure. The width of the galley is equal to the width of the body of the matrix, which is nine-sixteenths of an inch, provision being made, however, for sufficient clearance to allow the matrices to be moved longitudinally of the galley. The side walls of the galley are recessed at the floor line to receive the lower ears 2| of the matrices, the upper ears 22 riding on top of the walls. Because of the recess in the galley for the ears 2|, the matrices will not fall from the galley should the galleybe tipped over zine of a Linotype, the assembler stick is elevated tothe position in which matrices usually "are transferred to the casting mechanism. Thereupon the spiral chute I is positioned to receive the 'matrices from the matrix delivery belt, and the transfer box 4 is secured to the frame adjacent the keyboard, in place to take delivery of the matrices from the chute. A galley being caused to engage the transfer box, the keybuttons of the Linotype are operated to effect discharge of the matrices in the magazine onto the matrix delivery belt, and from thence through the spiral chute and into the galley. As the matrices are loaded into the galley the friction block 23 is forced back thereby until it contacts the closed end of the galley, at which time the galley is disengaged from the transfer box and the friction block is transferred to the open end of the galley to form a closure therefor.

To transfer a font of matrices from galleys to the magazine the second elevator bar 24 is moved upward until it rests against the distributor beam 25in front of the distributor box. Thereupon the distributor shifter 26 is dropped out of the way, as indicated in dotted line in Figure 1, and applicants distributor adapter 21 is secured to the distributor beam 25. The distributor adapter comprises a box, open at both ends, which serves open end of the galley and the matrices moved from the galley into and through the adapter.

Asthe matrices enter the adapter they are engaged by the guides 29-29, which serve to center the matrices and align them with the second elevatorbar 24. The adapter bar 28 is of the same contour as the second elevator bar 24, except that it may or may not be grooved, and is designed to project into the V-shaped notch at the top of each matrix. The matrices are lifted into engagement with the adapter bar 28 by means of the slide 30, a set screw 3! being operable to raise the free end of the slide sufficiently to lift the matrices into engagement with the bar.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. Matrix changing devices for a Linotype machine, comprising, in combination, aspiral chute, anorifice in said chute for receiving matrices fromthe star wheel of the matrix delivery belt, a

storage receptacle for said matrices, and a matrix transfer box disposed intermediate said chute and'said receptacle for receiving matrices from said chute and loading them into said receptacle, said receptacle releasably engaging said matrix transfer box for ready removal therefrom.

2. Matrix changing devices for a Linotype machine, comprising, in combination, a spiral chute for receiving matrices from the matrix delivery belt, a matrix transferbox for receiving matrices from said chute and loading them into a receptacle for storage, a storage receptacle for said matrices, and guides aifixed to said transfer box and designed to overlie thejoint between the transfer box and the receptacle.

3. Matrix changing devices for a Linotype matrices and providing a bearing surface for the upper ears of said matrices.

4. Matrix changing devices for a Linotype machine, comprising, in combination, a receptacle for stored matrices, and an adapter for transferring the matrices from the receptacle to the distributor bar on a Linotype, said adapter consisting of an alignment bar, guides for centering the matrices with respect to said bar, and an adjustable slide for lifting the matrices into engagement with said bar.

5. Matrix changing devices for a typographical machine, comprising means for receiving matrices from the matrix delivery belt, and a galley for storing said matrices, said matrix receiving means being so constructed and arranged as to deliver matrices to said galley, the side walls of the galley being recessed adjacent the floor of the galley for receiving the lower ears of the matrices, and being so constructed and arranged as to receive the upper ears of the matrices along the top of said walls.

6. Matrix changing devices for a typographical machine, comprising means for receiving matrices from the star wheel of the matrix delivery belt, a storage receptacle for said matrices, and a matrix transfer box for receiving matrices from said matrix receiving means and loading them into said receptacle, said receptacle releasably engaging said transfer box for ready removal therefrom.

'7. Matrix changing devices for a typographical machine, comprising means for receiving matrices from the star wheel of the matrix delivery belt, a storage receptacle for said matrices, a matrix transfer box for receiving matrices from said matrix receiving means and loading them into said receptacle, a star wheel in said transfer box, and means to synchronize rotation of the star wheel with the delivery of matrices from the matrix delivery belt, said receptacle releasably engaging said transfer box for ready removal therefrom.

8. Matrix changing devices for a Linotype machine, comprising in combination a receptacle for stored matrices and an adapter for transferring the matrices from the receptacle to the distributor bar on a Linotype, said adapter consisting of an alignment bar, guides for centering the matrices with respect to said bar, and means for lifting the matrices into engagement with said bar.

JAMES EARL MORGAN. 

